On February 16, a day-long nationwide protest is organized by central trade unions and the protesting farmer unions, who are united under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to demand their demands. The strike, known as the Gramin Bharat Bandh, is scheduled to begin at 6 AM and go until 4 PM.
During this time, farmers will take part in extensive traffic jams on the country’s main routes from 12 PM to 4 PM. The farmers warned that during the protest, an extensive part of Punjab’s national and state roads will be blocked for four hours.
Bharat Bandh Timing And Other Details
The farmers are going to take on countrywide chakka traffic jams on major highways from 12 PM to 4 PM on February 16, starting at 6 AM and lasting the entire day.
Following an unsuccessful meeting with the Union government, the protesting farmers from Punjab, together with their counterparts from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, began their “Chalo Delhi” march on February 13. Along with other protesters, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have also organized a protest to force the Centre to fulfill their demands, including the execution of a law to ensure a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Will Emergency Services be Available?
He declared that no farmer, agricultural worker, or rural worker would be at work on that particular day. Instead, they would make arrangements for transportation of people to and from the airport, as well as for emergency services such as ambulances, death, marriage, medical stores, newspaper supply, and board test students. He went on to say that there would be no more trading or purchasing of vegetables or other items.
The village shops, grain and vegetable markets, governmental and nonprofit offices, rural industrial and service sector facilities, and private-sector companies have been instructed to close, according to the farmer leader. He said that during the strike, shops and businesses in the cities closest to the villages will stay closed.
How Bharat Bandh Will Impact Other Sectors And Services
- Transportation delays impacting the public and private sectors will be expected during the Bharat Bandh.
- As farmers take part in the strike, farming activities in rural India can be impacted.
- It is expected that the present Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) activities will come to a halt.
- On February 16, various public and private offices, as well as local stores, will be closed for the duration of the protest.
- Institutions in the rural industrial and service industries are also likely to be shut.
List of Services to be Exempted
Emergency medical services, newspaper delivery, wedding and medical retail necessities, and ambulance operations would all be exempted during the Bharat Bandh. The Bharat Bandh would not disturb students taking board examinations either.
